According to AccuWeather forecasters, there are numerous chances of thunderstorms in the Northeast in the coming days. While the rainy weather may interfere with some outdoor plans and cause delays in some areas, many places need the rain.
Severe weather on Sunday was mainly concentrated to the west of the I-95 corridor. Thunderstorms swept through, bringing localized heavy downpours to those caught in their path, and places like Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Cleveland, Ohio, each received over an inch of rainfall.
Extremes and Sudden Bursts
A little less rain fell in the east, but it was still helpful. It rained in State College, Pennsylvania, for the first time since July 5 by almost a quarter of an inch.
Strong wind gusts will be the main threat Monday as storms approach their peak in the late afternoon and evening. At the very least, isolated severe weather will be possible. Not all locations will experience the same amount of rain, as is typical with summer thunderstorms, but those affected by the storms may experience suddenly appearing bursts of heavy rain.
Afternoon portions of the Appalachians should experience the severe threat, which will then spread eastward in the evening. The arrival of storms may cause traffic jams along the heavily populated Interstate 95 corridor from central Virginia to Connecticut because they coincide with the evening commute. Even the strongest thunderstorms will likely have weakened below severe limits later that night, even though areas like Boston may experience rain.
Plus, the Tornadoes
According to meteorologist Adam Sadvary of AccuWeather, the risk of severe weather should be at its highest in the late afternoon and early evening, when temperatures are at their highest.
The most dangerous threat on Monday will probably be straight-line winds, but a few tornadoes may also be possible, according to forecasters. Although widespread severe storms are not anticipated, the most intense storms can still cause localized power outages and fallen trees due to strong winds. As storms approach, experts advise travelers to keep an eye on the most recent watches and warnings and be aware of how quickly conditions can change.
The atmosphere will be able to support a few tornadoes in the most intense storms, according to Sadvary, if there is a strong jet stream overhead to help create wind shear. In New York and New England, where winds above the surface will be strongest, this is most likely to happen.
Read also: Rainy Sunday: Thunderstorms to Cover the Sky Across Central US
The Second Round
By Wednesday and Thursday, a second strong storm system will quickly skirt the northeastern edges of a large heat dome and make its way to the Northeast. The northern Plains will experience unsettled weather from this system, and it is expected to last further east.
Wednesday should be another hot and dry day along the coast, with highs as far north as New Hampshire and Maine reaching the low to mid-90s. By afternoon, storms will start to form further west.
There will once more be a chance for some storms to develop into severe ones in the eastern Great Lakes due to the abundance of heat and moisture. The most powerful storms may also produce hail in addition to damaging winds, according to forecasters.
The storms and precipitation will keep moving eastward into the coastal regions through Thursday. While isolated severe threats may exist, storms will once more be capable of producing significant rainfall.
According to senior meteorologist Matt Rinde of AccuWeather, the storm system's intensity will enable heavier rain and thunderstorms to move well to the south.
Rain for the Drought, Warm Weekend
The rain may turn out to be helpful in some places because much of the Northeast has been unusually dry this month and much of New England is currently experiencing a drought, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
According to AccuWeather meteorologists, the storm system will move offshore by Friday and the weekend, bringing with it another period of warm but dry weather.
Related article: Dozens Still Missing as Extreme Flooding Drowns Virginia